Tennis

Mónaco eliminated by Bellucci in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO — Seventh-seeded Juan Mónaco was eliminated from the second round of the Rio Open yesterday after losing 3-6 6-4 6-3 against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil at the Centre Court.

Argentine Mónaco seemed to continue with his good form after winning his first match in six months on Tuesday when he beat compatriot Horacio Zeballos, but after taking the first set, Bellucci took control of the match.

Mónaco was beaten in two hours yesterday.

Fourth-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain reached the quarterfinals defeating Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-2 6-1. He next faces fellow Spaniard Pablo Andújar, who advanced when his opponent Martin Klizan of Slovakia withdrew with an injury.

In other matches in the joint WTA-ATP event, third-seeded Paula Ormaechea of Argentina defeated Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 7-5 7-5 to land in the quarterfinals.

No. 5 Kurumi Nara of Japan and Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany reached the second round, while top-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic, Poland’s Katarzyna Piter and Nastassja Burnett of Italy won to advance to the quarterfinals.

OPEN 13. Top-seeded Richard Gasquet and defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga both reached the Open 13 quarterfinals with straight-sets wins yesterday.

After the second-seeded Tsonga beat Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (10-8), his French countryman Gasquet followed up with a 6-3 6-3 win against Slovenia’s Blaz Kavcic. Gasquet did not face a single break-point and took his opponent’s serve three times.

DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIP. Venus Williams pummeled Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 in a second-round match between former world No. 1s at the Dubai Championships yesterday. Williams showed the form that once delivered her seven Grand Slam titles.